Printing attachment for envelope machines



Feb. 14, 1939. J. 1.. OBERENDER PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPEMACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 31, 1937 Feb. 14, 1939. J. OBERENDERPRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 31, 1937 6Sheets-Sheet 2 (jajy rwmdw= Feb. 14, 1939- J. L. OBERENDER PRINTINGATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 31, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet I5Feb. 14, 1939. J 1 QBERENDE'R 2,147,541

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 31, 1937 6Sheets-Sheet 4 (124,; L. a e/ 46,

Feb. 14, 1939.

J. OBERENDER 2,147,541 PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES FiledMarch 51, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Gum M 15 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PRINTINGATTACHMENT FOR- ENVELOPE MACHINES John L. Oberender, Kings ville, Md,assignor to Oles Envelope Corporation, Baltimore, Md., 2. corporation ofMaryland Application March 31, 1937, Serial No. 134,165

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in envelope machines, andmore especially to those of the class adapted to make envelopes of thediagonally seamed type, and the primary object of the invention is toprovide a printing attachment for such machines which enables one sideof the envelope blanks to be printed while gum is applied simultaneouslyto the opposite side of the blanks for pasting the diagonally seamedflaps.

According to the present invention, the printing means is combined withsaid gum applying, means to form a unit in which the printing and gumapplying means are synchronized, thus enabling each envelope blank toreceive gum for the pasting of its diagonal seams and, simultaneously,to be printed, the synchronization of the gum applying and printingmeans insuring the proper application of the gum and the printing In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the gum picker shaft whichcarries the pickers which apply the lines of gum to one side of theenvelope blanks for the diagonal seams also carries an impression rollbeneath which portions of the envelope blanks pass, and a type roll ismounted opposite to the impression roll and is connected thereto torotate at the same surface speed therewith, so that portions of theenvelope blanks passing between the impression and type rolls receiveprinting on one side thereof while, simultaneously therewith, otherportions of the blanks are passing and receiving gum for the diagonalseams from the pickers on the impression roll shaft, such gumming andprinting operations being performed as each envelope is passing oncethrough the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means,controlled automatically according to the presence or absence of anenvelope blank, to prevent contact of the type roll with the impressionroll in the event no blank is in printing position at the moment theprinting operation is timedto take place, thereby avoiding printing onthe impression roll, which would be objectionable since it would smudgethe envelope blanks which subsequently come into contact with it.

Another object is to provide novel and improved means for mounting theprinting attachment in the machine whereby the type roll and itscooperating impression roll and ink feeding rolls may be adjusted as aunit relatively to the path of travel of the envelope blanks to print onthe desired part of the envelope blanks.

to the appropriate parts of the envelope blanks;

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in themountings and adjustments of the ink feeding elements of the printingattachment whereby more uniform feeding of ink to the type roll isattained and adjustments of these elements may be accomplished withfacility. 1

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvementsand combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafterdescribed, the features of novelty being set forth 10 more particularlyin the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings: l

Figures 1 and l collectively show diagrammatically an envelope machineto which the printing attachment according to the present invention isapplied; 1

Figure 2 shows an envelope blank in position for feeding into themachine;

Figure 3 shows several ofthe envelope blanks about to receive gum oradhesive on the closing flaps;

Figure 4 shows the relation of the envelope blanks during drying of thegummed flaps thereof; 25

Figure 5 shows one of the blanks with its side flaps folded;

Figure 6 shows one of the envelope blanks turned;

Figure? shows an envelope blank after gum has been applied to the bottomflap on one side of the blank for sealing the diagonal seams and theopposite side of the blank has been printed;

Figure 8 shows the completed envelope;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the printing mechanism or attachmentprovided by the present invention;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the printing mechanism and thecooperative gummingmechanism; 40

Figure 11 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the right handportion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10, as viewed from the undersidein said figure;

Figure 12 is a detail horizontal section, taken on the line lZ-IZ inFig. 11;

Figure 13 is a vertical section, taken on the line l3--l3 in Fig. 11;

Figure 14 is a detail View of portions of the impression and type rollsshown in Fig. 13 but showing the type roll shifted out of printingposition;

Figure 15 is a detail horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, of oneof the bearing mountings shown in Fig. 12;

Figure 16 is a vertical section taken on the line l6-I6 in Fig. 15;

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken on the line I1l7 in Fig. 11;

Figure 18 is a detail vertical section taken on the line l8l8 in Fig.13;

Figure 19 is a detail vertical section taken on the line |9l9 in Fig.17;

Figure 20 is a detail'view of the adjustable mounting for one of the inkdistributing rolls;

Figure 21 is a section taken on the line 2l2l in Fig. 20;

Figure 22 is a detail section, partly broken away, taken axially throughthe impression roll;

Figure 23 is a section taken on the line 23-23 in Fig. 22;

Figure 24 is a section taken on the line 2424 in Fig. 22;

Figure 25 is a vertical section taken on the line 25-25 in Fig. 17 andFigure26 is a section taken on the line 2626 in Fig. 25.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters'in thedifferent figures.

The present invention provides an attachment for envelope machines ofthe class adapted to make envelopes of the form having side flaps andtop and bottom flaps all foldable against the same side of the envelope,the bottom flap being united to the side flaps by diagonal gummed seams,and it enables the gum or adhesive to be'applied at one side of theenvelope blankfor thediagonal seams and printingto beapplied at the sametime to the opposite side of the envelope blank, so that theseoperations are performed during a single passage of the envelope blankthrough the machine, and the invention further provides improvements inprinting mechanism which particularly adapts the same for use in anenvelope machine. The preferred embodiment of the in vention is shown inthe accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail,but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to theprecise construction'shown since equivalent constructions arecontemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

The invention is shown inthe present instance applied to an envelopemachine of well-known construction, and it is therefore deemedsufiicient, for the purposes of the present invention, to show the samediagrammatically asin Figs. 1 and 1 and to describe it briefly. Itcomprises a plate I on which a stack of envelope blanks A rest, theblanks being positioned thereon by a pair of pins 2, a separator 3 whichsuccessively separates the lowermost blank from those above it, apivoted suction cup 4 which successively engages a corner of thelowermost blank immediately after it has been separated from the stackand presents it to a roller 5 to be engaged beneath a split presserroller 6, the rollers 5 and 6 receiving the ends of the blanks inclose'succession so'that the blanks will be in stepped relation andrevolving in a direction to carry the blanks beneath a belt 1 whichadvances the line of blanks around the roller 5 to a belt 8, the blanksthen dropping by gravity on an inclined plate 9 beneath a roller l0around which a pair of belts ll travel, the blanks then passing around aguide-plate I2 and while passing this plate, the ends of the blankshaving the closing flaps a thereon are in staggered or stepped relationand the exposed por tions of the closing flaps pass a gum applyingnozzle l3 as shown in Fig. 3 which applies lines of gum or othersuitable adhesive a to the exposed portions of the closing flaps. As theline of staggered or stepped blanks discharges from the belts II, itpasses between a pair of rollers M which are driven at a higher surfacespeed than that of the belts I I so that the blanks are spread apart inthe manner shown in Fig. 4, and the line of blanks then passesv betweenpairs of travelling belts 15 which advance the blanks over a heater l6for drying the lines of adhesive a, this heater having a nozzle I!connected to it and through which air enters the heater and is blownunder the line of blanks to assist in drying gum or adhesive on theclosing flaps thereof. The line of blanks passes from the belts l5 topairs of belts I8 and I 9, the blanks entering between these belts andbeing advanced by them around a roller 20 and discharging from thisroller by gravity over an inclined plate 2| onto a belt 22 having pins23 thereon which pass beneath a guide-plate 24, the belt 22 being drivenat a'higher speed than that of the preceding belts so that the pins 23will engage the trailing edges of the individual blanks and advance themtoa pair of scoring rollers 25 which score the blanks on the lines onwhich the side flaps are to be folded. The scored blanks are thenadvanced between a pair of feed rolls 26, driven at a suitable speed,and from these feed rolls the blanks enter between pairs of feed belts2! and 28 with which cooperate a pair of folding belts 29 which fold theside flaps 1) onto the upper side of the blank as shown in Fig. 5. Fromthe feed belts 21 and 28, the blanks pass between a pair of belts 30 and3|, the belt 30 carrying suction cups 32 and the belt 3| carrying plates33 timed to register with the suction cups, each blank entering betweena suction cup and cooperating plate and the suction cup having means forrotating it through a quarter turn whereby the blank will be turned fromthe position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6. The turned blanksare transferred from the turning means just described to the gum pickers34 which apply the line of gum or adhesive 0' to the bottom flap 0 by abelt or chain 35 having pins 36 thereon engageable with the trailingedges of the blanks, a pair of scoring rollers 31 being located at thedischarge end of the belt 35 and scoring the blanks on the lines onwhich the top and bottom flaps a and c are to be folded. The gum theblank'is carried whilethe blank is guided by guide rails 5| and 52. Theblank is received from the gumming devices by belts 43-which continuethe advance of the blank, and folder belts 44 cooperate with the belts43 and serve to fold the gummed bottom flap 0 over and onto the foldedside flaps b and to fold the top or closing flap a into closed position,as shown in Fig. 8. The closed envelope then passes between a pair offeed rollers 4-5 and then between delivery belts 46 and 41, these beltsdischarging the envelopes onto a belt 48 with which a pair of presserrolls 49 cooperate and between which the gummed diagonal seams betweenthe bottom and side flaps pass to insure adhesion, the completedenvelopes being discharged by the belt 48 onto a table, stacker or othersuitable receiving device 50.

The printing attachment provided by the present invention cooperates asa unit with the gumming device 34, 40 which applies the gum lines 0' tothe bottom flap c of the envelope blanks. In applying the presentinvention to an envelope machine of the general class just described, inwhich the gum pickers 34 are mounted on a shaft 55 journalled inbearings 56 in the respective side members 51 of the frame of the machine, the picker shaft 55 is utilized as the rotatable support for theimpression roll 58 of the printing attachment, the latter alsocomprising a type roll 59 which cooperates with the impression roll, theimpression and type rolls and the inking devices for the latter forminga unit with the gumming device.

The gum pickers 34 receive gum or other adhesive from a receptacle 68 inwhich a. roller 6| is immersed, this roller contacting with a roller 62the periphery of which is located to be engaged by the gum pickers 34 asthe latter rotate whereby adhesive is transferred to the gum pickers.The roller 6| is driven by gearing 63 from the shaft 64 of the roller62, and the shaft 64 is driven by a belt 65 and pulleys 66 and 61 from ashaft 68. The shaft 68 is driven from the longitudinal drive shaft 69 bybevel gearing I8 which connects this shaft to a shaft II journalled inthe adjacent side frame of the machine, shaft II having a gear I2 fixedthereon and meshing with a gear 13 fixed on the shaft 68. The gear I3also meshes with a gear 14 fixed on a shaft I5 which is journalled inbearings in the side members of the machine frame, this shaft carrying apulley I6 over which the belt 4| passes. The picker shaft 55 is alsodriven from the shaft 68 through a gear 11 fixed on this shaft, a pairof idler gears 18 mounted on the adjacent side member of the frame and agear I9 fixed on the shaft 55, it being understood that the shaft 55 issynchronized with the passage of the envelope blanks beneath the gumpickers 34. Since the impression roll 58 is mounted on the picker shaft55, it also will rotate in synchronism with the passing envelope blanksand at a surface speed corresponding with the speed of travel of theenvelopes.

The printing attachment provided by the present invention, is adjustablein a direction axially of the picker shaft 55 in order to accommodate itto the printing of envelope blanks of different sizes or enable theprinting to be done on different desired portions of the blanks. Forthis purpose, the impression roll 58 is splined on the picker shaft sothat it will be driven thereby but movable longitudinally thereon. Asshown in the present instance, the impression roll comprises a pair ofheads or end plates 88 and 8| mounted in spaced relation on a flangedhub 82 and a cylindrical body 83 extends between the heads, the heads 88and 8| being secured to the flanges of the hub and securing thecylindrical body 82 firmly in place between them by screws 84. A sleeve85 extends through the hub and fits the shaft 55, and the impressionroll is clamped frictionally to the shaft 55 by a split clamping ring 86which fits around a ring 81, the latter fitting upon the sleeve 85. Thering 86 is fixed to the impression roll by a screw 88 which extendsthrough the clamping ring 86 and adjacent head or end plate 88 into oneof the hub flanges and is provided with a screw 89 which connects itssplit portions and is operative to contract the split ring on the ring81. The ring 81 is connected to the sleeve 85 to be driven therefrom bya suitable number of pins 98 which extend radially through the ring 81and sleeve 85, and as shown, these pins also extend into a collar 9|which fits slidably on the shaft 55. By this arrangement, by looseningthe screw 89, the impression roll may be rotated relatively to thepicker shaft 55 to set the type roll, which is driven from theimpression roll, in proper timed relation to the envelope blanks as theypass between the impression and type rolls or to enable the printing tobe done at the desired point or points in the direction of the length ofthe en velope blanks, and tightening of the screw 89 will clamp the ring86 upon the ring 81 and thereby provide a frictional but firm drivingcoupling between the sleeve 85 and the impression roll. The sleeve 85 issplined on the picker shaft 55 by a key 92 which fits into and isslidable longitudinally in a keyway 93 in the shaft 55, this key beingfixed in a collar 94 which is fitted into an end of the sleeve 85 and isfixed to turn therewith by a suitable number of radial driving pins 95.A gear 96 is keyed or otherwise fixed on the hub 82 of the impressionroll, this gear meshing with a gear 91 which is fixed to the type rolland serves to drive it. The sleeve 85 is journalled in a bearing 98which occupies a position between the gear 96 and a collar 99 which isfixed on the outer end of the sleeve 85. The impression roll is providedwith a tympan I 88 which may be composed of sheets of paper, fabric,parchment or other suitable flexible material which surrounds thecylindrical body 83 of the impression roll. In the present instance, thetympan comprises a sheet IIII of fabric or other suitable backingmaterial which lies against the surface of the cylindrical body 83, oneend of this sheet being fixed to the cylindrical body as by a clampingstrip I82 and the other end of which is attached to a shaft I83 which ismounted rotatably in the heads 88 and 8| and is adapted to wind thesheet thereon and thereby tension it, the shaft I83 being provided forthis purpose with a square or other suitable wrench receiving end I84and having a ratchet wheel I85 fixed thereon, this ratchet wheelcooperating with a pawlI86 which is pivoted at I81 on the adjacent head8| for locking the shaft I83 against unwinding rotation and therebymaintaining the sheet I8I in tensioned condition. The tympan alsocomprises an outer sheet |88 of for example paper or parchment whichextends around the impression roll exteriorly of the sheet |8I, thisouter sheet being attached at its ends to shafts I89 and I I8 mountedrotatably in the heads 88 and 8|, one of these shafts having a square orother wrench receiving end Ill for rotating it to wind the sheet |88thereon and thereby tension it, the shafts I89 M- and I I8 being lockedto maintain the outer sheet |88 under tension by set screws I I2 and II3.

The type roll 59, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, is adapted to receiveprinting plates or other printing elements for cooperation with theimpression roll. The cylindrical periphery of the type roll may forexample be provided with intersecting circumferential and longitudinalundercut grooves M5 to receive the heads of screws ||6 for clamping aprinting plate II! in the desired-position on the periphery of the typeroll. The type roll is provided with bearings I I8 which are mountedrevolubly on a shaft I I9, the latter being pinned or otherwise fixed atits ends in a pair of arms I28. A hub |2I extends axially from one endof the type cylinder and the gear 91 is keyed or otherwise fixed on thishub. A cam I22, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, is alsokeyed or otherwise fixed on the hub I2I of thetype roll.

v The type roll and itscooperating inking mechanism is carried by aframe which is shiftable axially of the-picker shaft 55, and theimpression roll 58' is shiftable axially on said shaft and as a unitwith this frame. The frame comprises a pair of side members I25 andI26and a tie rod or bolt I21 which rigidly connects them, and thebearing 98 in which the hub of the impression roll is journalled iscarriedby or formed as a part of the side frame member I26, so that theimpression roll may shift axially of the picker shaft as a unit with theframe I25, I26 and the type roll and inking devices. The shiftable frameis supported for such shifting movement by a pair of rods I28 and I29which are rigidly secured in the main side frame members 51 and extendslidably through bearing sleeves I30 and I'3I which extend between andare secured to the side frame members I25 and I26 of the shiftableframe. The frame carrying the type roll and inking devices is adjustedon therods I28 and I29 by a screw I32 (Fig. 25) which is mountedrotatably in the adjacent side member 51' of the'main frame and. is heldagainst axial movement by thrust collars I33, the outer end' of thisscrew having a suitable crank or wrench receiving portion I34 and thescrew being threaded at I35 into the shiftable frame member I26.

The shaft II9 on which the type roll 59 is mounted extends through aslot I36 formed in the frame member I26, and the arms I20 which carrythe shaft II9' are fixed on the ends of a shaft I3! which extendsthrough the frame members I25 and I26 and is rotatable therein, the typeroll being thus mounted to swing forwardly and rearwardly relatively tothe impression roll, about the shaft I31 as a center, and the slot I36is concentric with the shaft I31.

The type roll is thus mounted for swinging movement relatively to theimpression roll for the purpose of setting it in or out of printingrelation therewith, and the present invention provides means forautomatically settingthe type roll out of printing relation with theimpression roll uponfailureof feed of an envelope blank to the printingmechanism. By referring more particularly to Figs. 13 and 14, it will beunderstood that rotation of the gear 96 in a clockwise direction andwhich drives the gear 91- 'connected to the type roll in ananti-clockwise direction, will tend to swing the type roll shaft II9toward the left in Fig. 13 to bring the type roll into printing relationwith the impression roll and to maintain it in such position, throughthe force of the'drive between the gears 96 and 91, and while the typeroll occupies that position, it will'be in printing relation with theimpression roll. Means isprovided however for swinging the type rollrearwardly or toward the right in Fig. 13 to carry the type roll out ofprinting relation with the impression roll,.such means comprising thecam I22 fixed to the type roll and rotatable therewith, a cam followercomprising a pawl I40 pivoted at I4I on the adjacent shiftable framemember I26 and carrying a roller I42 which rides on the cam I22 and isheld in contact therewith by a spring I43, and a latch I44 which ispivoted at I45 on the frame member I26 and is engageable with the end ofthe pawl I40. While the latch I44'is in lifted relation with the pawlI40 as shown in Fig. 13, the pawl I4Il' will swing to and fro idly asthe roller I42 rides on the cam I22 and'the type roll will remaininprinting position, but when the latch I 44" is'lowered into the pathof the upper end of the pawl I40, the pawl I40, after the roller I42thereon has dropped into the depression I22 of the cam, will be heldagainst swinging movement toward the left in Fig. 14, in consequence ofwhich the cam I 22, bearing onthe fixed roller I42, will swing the typeroll shaft 9 toward the right, or from the position shown in Fig.13'to'that shown-in Fig. 14, thereby moving the type roll out ofprinting relation with the impression roll.

The purpose of moving the type roll out of printing relation with theimpression roll is to avoid printing on the tympan of the impressionroll as would occur upon failure of an envelope blankto feed betweenthese rolls, and the present invention provides means controlledautomatically according to t-he presence or absence of an envelopeblank, to control the position of the type roll. In the preferredconstruction as shown, the shaft I 45- to which-the latch I44 is fixedis J'ournalled in and extends through the frame member I26 and has anarm I 46 fixed on its outer end, this arm carrying anarmature or coreI41 of a solenoid I 48, the latter beingfixed to the frame member I26,as by abracket I49. A spring I50 acts on the arm I46 toswing it in adirection to lift the latch I44 from the path of the pawl M0 while thesolenoid is deenergized. The terminals of the solenoid are connected bywires WI and I52 anda battery or other suitable source of electriccurrent I53 to a pair of spring contact members I54 and I55 which aremounted opposite to one another in the'path of the envelopes as they areabout to enterbetween the impression and type rolls. If an envelopeblank passes between the contact members I54 and I55 at the I moment thedepression I 22 inthe cam I22 is passing the'roller I42, said contactmembers will be held out of engagement with one another as shown in:Fig. 1-3 and the solenoid I48 will be deenergized sothat the spring I50will hold the latch I44 in-its elevated position out of the path of theupper end of the pawl I40 so that the latter can swing idly andthetypecylinder will re main in printing relation with the impression roll, butif no envelope blank passes between the contact members I54and I55-atthe moment the depression I22 inthe cam I22 is-opposite to the rollerI42, the contact members I54 and I55 will engage one another, therebycompleting the electric circuit through the solenoid I48, ener- 5 gizingthe latter and causing it to lower the latch I44 into the path of theupper end of the pawl I40, therebypreventing swing of said pawl towardtheleftin Figs. 13 and 14, and since the roller I42 will be thus heldina fixed position,

continuing rotation of the-cam I22 will cause it, through reactionagainst the roller I42, to swing the type roll shaft II9 toward theright or into the position shown in-Fig. 14, the type roll being then-innon-printing relation with the impression roll. Upon 'deenergizing-ofthe solenoid, due to the feed of an envelope blank between the contactmembers I54 and I55, the latch I44 will be returned'to its elevated-ornon-active position under the action of the spring I50. Means is thusprovided for automatically setting the type roll in non-printingrelation with the impression roll upon failure of feed of an-envelopeblank to the printing mechanism;

The inking devices for'supplying' ink to the printing plate or otherprinting means on the type roll is carried between the side members I25and I 26 of the shiftable frame and driven from the gear 91 fixed tothe'type roll. These inking devices comprise a pairof' form rollers I68and I6I which serve to apply ink to the printing plate or the like onthe type roll, distributing rollers I 62, I 63 and I54 for supplying inkto the form rollers, an ink fountain roller I65, and a transfer rollerI66 to receive ink from the fountain roller and transfer it to thedistributing rollers.

The form roller I68 is mounted on a shaft I61 the ends of which arejournalled in bearings I68, and the shaft I67 has a gear I69 whichmeshes with the gear 91 and by which it is driven. The bearings I68 areremovably mounted in the shiftable frame so that the roller I68 may bereadily removed therefrom for cleaning or other purposes and replacedwith facility. As shown, each of the bearings I68 has a rib I18 thereonwhich is slidable in a groove I'II formed in the inner side of a bearingblock I12, the bearing block being secured to the respective framemember I25 or I26 by a bolt I13 and the bearing block being locked tothe respective frame member by a key I'M. Each bearing I68 is providedwith an elongated slot I I5 through which a screw H6 passes, said screwbeing threaded into the respective bearing block I12 and serving toclamp the respective bearing thereto, and each bearing I68 carries a setscrew Ell which is threaded therein and arranged to bear against theouter end of the bearing block I12 and thereby set the bearing I68 inadjusted position so that the periphery of the roller I68 makes propercontact with the printing plate or other printing element on the typeroll. A similar mounting is employed for the roller I63 whereby thisroller may be removably mounted in the shiftable frame and adjusted and.set so that its periphery makes proper contact with the ink distributingrollers I62 and I64. In Fig. 12, the roller I63 is shown by the fulllines removed from the bearing blocks and is shown by the dotted linesin operative position on the bearing blocks, and it will be understoodthat the roller Hill which is mounted in a similar way, may be similarlyremoved and rep-laced, the set screws I'II enabling removal andreplacement of either or both of these rollers without disturbing theadjustment or adjustments thereof, these set screws serving to determinethe adjusted positions of these rollers by engagement with the outerends of the respective bearing blocks.

The form roller I6I is mounted on a shaft I88 each end of which isjournalledin a bearing I8I. Each of these bearings has a pin I82 fixedthereon and removably and slidably mounted in a bore I83 formed in alever I84, and a set screw I85 is threaded through each of the bearingsI8I and rests against a shoulder or abutment I86 on the lever I84. Bythis arrangement, the roller I6I and the bearings I8I may be removedfrom the levers I84, for cleaning of the roller or other purposes, andwhen replaced by insertion of the pins I82 in the bores I83, the setscrews .485 will insure the return of this roller to its former adjustedposition. Each of the levers I84 is fpivoted at I81 on the respectiveside member I25or I26 of the shiftable frame and may be secured indifferent adjusted positions about the pivots I81 by swinging the lever,in order to securejjproper contact between the roller I6I andthe'iroller I62 and the printing plate or other printing element on thetype roll 59 and each of the levers I84 is securedin adjusted positionby a clamping bolt I88 which extends through aslot or"'enlarged opening'l89 on the respective side franie member. By mounting the bearings I8Ion theilevers I84, the respective ends of the roller I6I maybe adjustedtoward and from the roller I62 and the type roll 59, and by mounting thebearings slidably on the levers I84,

, the roller I6I may be set more or less in between has a gear I94 fixedto its shaft and meshing withv the gear I69 on the shaft of the rollerI68, and the gear I94 also meshes with a gear I95 fixed to the shaft I67of the roller I63 so that these rollers will be driven from the gear 91through the intermediate gears previously described.

The distributing rollerl64 is mounted on a shaft I96 which is journalledin bearings I91 on the frame members I25 and I26 respectively, and

this roller has a, gear I98 fixed to its shaft andmeshing with the gearI95 on the shaft of the roller I63. The shafts I9I and I96 of therollers I62 and I64-are movable axially in their bearings, and groovedcolla'rsI98 and 288 are fixed on the shafts of these rollers andcooperate with rollers or projections 28I and 282 on the respective endsof a lever 283, this lever being pivoted at 284 to the inner side of theframe member I25. The lever and collars just described provide aconnection between the rollers I62 and I64 whereby when one of theserollers is moved axially in one direc-- tion the other roller is movedaxially in the opposite direction. Such axial movement of these rollersis provided for the purpose of insuring uniform distributionof the inkthereon and upon the form rollers I68 and I6I, and such axial movementis produced in the present instance by a pinion 285 which is fixed onthe shaft I96 of the roller I64 and has flanges 286 which projectcircumferentially beyond it, this pinion meshing with a gear 281 aportion of which is twisted or distorted-out of a plane perpendicular toits axis.

' The gear 281 is fixed on a shaft 288 which is journalled in 'a bearing299 on the lower end of the frame member I26, said shaft having thrust001- lars 2l8 and 2| I which are pinned or otherwise fixed thereon andabut against the opposite sides of the bearing 289 so that the shaft 288may revolve in said bearing but will be held against axial movementtherein. The toothed portion of the gear 281 meshes with the teeth ofthe pinion 285 between the flanges 286, and as the gear 281 revolves,the pinion 285 and the shaft I96 to which it is fixedwill be shiftedaxially, due to the axial displacement of portions of the periphery ofthe gear 281. The ink distributing roller I64 will be thereby shiftedaxially to distribute ink therefrom onto the roller I63 and, through therocking of the connecting lever 283, the roller I62 will besimultaneously reciprocated axially to distribute the ink received byit. from the roller I63 onto the rollers I68 and l6l. The gear I95 fixedon the shaft of the roller I63 is elongated in order that the gearsI94'and I98 fixed to the rollers I62 and v I64 respectively will remainin mesh therewith during the axial reciprocations of said rollers.

The inking mechanism receives ink from an ink fountain 2I5 which may bemounted on the tie rod I21. This ink fountain, as shown in detail inFig. 26, preferably comprises an ink receptacle 2I6 one side of which isclosed by the roller I65 mounted on a shaft 2| 8, the latter beingjournalled in suitable bearings 2I9 at the respective ends of the inkfountain, and the bottom of the ink receptacle is preferably formed of aflexible plate of steel or other suitable vmaterial 228 one edge ofwhich may be clamped firmly in place by screws HI and the otheredge ofwhich extends beneath and bears against the underside of the roller I65.In order to insure uniformity of contact of the plate 220 with theperiphery of the roller I65 and therebycause the ink to be distributeduniformly on the surface .of the roller I65, a suitable number of levers222 are pivoted at 22.3 in the base of the ink fountain, these leversbearing against the underside of the plate 220 .at different pointsalong the lengthof the roller I65 and having individual set screws 223'by means of which they may be adjusted. The-roller I65 is rotated .toremove ink from the ink foun- .tain preferably by a lever 225 which ispivoted to swing on an extension 226 fixed-on the shaft .2 I 8, thislever carryinga pawl .22] which cooperates with a ratchet wheel .228fixed on the shaft 226. The lever 225 is swung .to and fro during theoperation .of the printing mechanism by a link 229 which is pivotallyconnected to the lever 225 by a pivot 230, this pivot beingpreferablyadjustable in a slot ..23I in said lever ,to vary the throw of saidlever and, in consequence, the extent of rotation of the ink fountainroller I65. The link 229 is driven preferably bya crank pin 232 fixed ona side of the gear 201. Ink from the fountain roller I65 is vremovedtherefrom and transferred to the roller .I.64 by the transfer roller I66the shaft 234 .of which is journalled in the upper endsof a pair of.arms235, these ar-ms being fixed on a shaft 236 journalledin the ,framemembers I25 and I26 and the shaft .236 havingacrank arm 231 fixedthereon, this crank .arm having a roller 2138 thereon which rides on acam .239

fixed on the shaft 208, a spring248 holding the roller 238 in contactwith said cam. By :this arrangement, rotationof the shaft 208 will causerocking of the crank arm 231 and .of the shaft 236 to which it isattached, thereby causing the roller I66 to swing to and fro betweentherollers I65and I-64 whereby ink :willbe-removed from the roller I65by the roller I66 andtransferred to the roller I64.

The operation of the improved-attachment provided by the presentinvention is as follows: As each envelope blank A, having its .sideflaps -b folded by an envelope machine such as that hereinbeforedescribed or any other suitable machine is presented to the gumming andprinting mechanism while'being advanced with its unfolded flaps aand cprojecting laterally of its direction of advance as shown in Fig. 6, theflap-c passes beneath the gum pickers 34 which receive gum or adhesivefrom the roller '62andapply it-along the lines 0 to the flap 0, as shownin Fig. 7, and the previously gummed and dried flap a passes between theimpression roll 58 and type roll 59. The

blank is guided in its travel beneath the gum.

pickers and between the impression and type .rolls by the stationaryguide rails .5.I and 52 and its advance is assisted by :the upper andlower belts 4| and 42 between which it is engaged,- as shown in Fig..13. The printing plate or other printing means I-IrI is so positionedcircumferentially of the type roll 58 as to print the impres sion at thedesired pointon the underside of the blank in the direction of the widththereof. In

the present instance and as indicated in Fig. 7, the printing plate isadapted to make two printed impressions d and e on the face of theenvelope body, one of these impressions being for example the returnaddress and the other impression a postal frank or the like. Theprinting plate or other printing means is also positioned at such adistance from the gum pickers as to cause the printed impressions to bemade at the desired point or points in the height of the envelope body,according to the size of the envelope. Such location of the printingplate may be obtained to a certain extent by placing the printing plateat one position or another in the direction of the length of the typeroll, but such location of the printed impressions is determinedprimarily by the adjustment of the shiftable frame which carries theimpression and type rolls and the inking devices in a directiontransversely of the path of travel of the envelope blanks, the screw I32which adjusts the shiftable frame enabling a fine adjustment to beobtained and moreover, by shifting the frame carrying the impression andtype rolls, these elements of the printing mechanism may be adjusted forprinting envelopes of different sizes. Furthermore, the impression andtype rolls may if desired, be adjusted so that the printed impressionswill be produced on the underside of the flap a, if such should bedesired,

or upon any other desired portion of the underside of the envelopeblank. Since the inking devices are carried by the same frame whichcarries the impression and type rolls, the cooperative relation betweenthese elements of the printing mechanism is not disturbed by theadjustments of the shiftable frame.

The pawl I40 and cooperative latch I44 in conjunction with the contactmembers I54 and I55 between which the envelope blanks pass as they enterthe printing mechanism serve to automatically control the printingoperation according to the presence or absence of an envelope inprinting position. As each envelope blank is about to enter the printingmechanism, it passes between the contact members I54 and I55, therebyseparating them so that the electrical circuit of the solenoid I48 isheld open, and since the latch I44 will then be held in its inactivelifted position by the spring I50, the pawl I40 will swing idly underthe action of the cam I22 and the type roll will occupy printingposition. If however an envelope blank fails to feed to the printingmechanism,

the contact members I54 and I55 will engage one another, thereby closingthe circuit through the solenoid I48 and energizing the same, inconsequence of which the latch I44 will be lowered into the path of thepawl I48, and as the high part of the cam I22 engages the roller I42which is then held stationary, the type roll will be swung rearwardlyinto non-printing position, thereby avoiding printing on the tympan ofthe impression roll, which would be objectionable since it would producea smudge or undesired impression on the next following envelope blank.

Since the envelope blanks are printed at the same time the gum pickersapply gum or adhesive to the bottom flaps thereof, the printing of theenvelope blanks is accomplished while the envelopes are being made inthe machine, the time and expense that would be involved in printing theenvelopes or envelope blanks separately being thereby avoided. Bymounting the impression roll on the gum picker shaft and. driving thetype roll from the impression roll, the printing mechanism is properlytimed to operate upon the envelope blanks concurrently with theoperation of the gum pickers thereon, thereby insuring properapplication of the gum and the printed impressions to the respectiveportions of the envelope blanks.

I claim as my invention:

1.'In an envelope machine having means for applying a flap securingadhesive to one side of one end of an envelope blank, means operativeconcurrently with said adhesive applying means but offset therefrom forsimultaneously printing on the opposite side and toward the opposite endof the blank, and envelope blank feeding means extending between theadhesive applying means and printing means.

2. In an envelope machine having means for applying an adhesive to anunfolded flap at one end of an envelope blank for securing it in foldedposition, means connected to and operative simultaneously with saidadhesive applying means and offset laterally of the latter for printingon the other side of the blank, and opposed travelling belts extendingbetween said adhesive applying means and printing means for feeding theenvelope blanks.

3. In an envelope machine, the combination of a rotatable gum applyingdevice operative to apply gum to one side of an envelope blank duringthe travel thereof, printing means an element of which is separate frombut rotatable coaxially with said gum applying device and operativesimultaneously with said gum applying device to print on the other sideof the same envelope blank, and means for adjusting said element axiallyof the gum applying device to print on different portions of theenvelope blank relatively to the portion thereof to which the gum isapplied by the gum applying device.

4. In an envelope machine, the combination of a rotatable gum applyingdevice operative to apply gum to one portion of an envelope blank duringthe travel thereof, printing means embodying an impression roll separatefrom but mounted coaxially with said gum applying device at one side ofthe latter and a type roll cooperative with said impression roll, andmeans connecting the printing means to the gum applying device tooperate simultaneously with said gum applying device to print on anotherportion of the envelope blank, said connecting means rendering theprinting means adjustable toward and from the gum applying device toprint on portions of the envelope blanks at different distances from theportion thereof to which the gum is applied by the gum applying device.

5. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft having gum pickersthereon toward one end thereof for applying an adhesive to one portionof an envelope blank, and a printing device comprising an impressionroll splined for adjustment axially on said shaft toward its other endin offset relation with said gum pickers and a type roll connected toand cooperative with said impression roll for rotation and adjustmentaxially therewith, said printing device being operative by said shaftsimultaneously with said pickers to print on another portion of theenvelope blank beyond the portion thereof to which the gum pickers applythe adhesive.

6. In an envelope machine having means for advancing envelope blanks,and means for applying an adhesive to a portion of each blank during itsadvance, a printing device embodying printing and impression elementshaving a driving connection with said gum applying means and operativesimultaneously therewith for printing on another portion of each blank,and means supporting the elements of said printing device for adjustmentin unison transversely of the path of advance of the blanksindependently of said adhesive applying means and while their drivingconnection therewith is maintained.

'7. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft carrying gumpickers for applying an adhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks,and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion ofthe blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined onsaid shaft to move axially thereof, a type roll cooperative with theimpression roll and connected to and shiftable axially therewith, inkingdevices cooperative with the type roll, and means carrying theimpression and type rolls and the inking devices as a unit andadjustable relaadhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks, U

and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion ofthe blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined onsaid shaft, a type roll cooperative with the impression roll, inkingdevices cooperative with the type roll, and aframe having means forguiding it for movement in a direction axially of said shaft andcarrying the impression and type rolls and the inking devices as a unit.

9. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft carrying gumpickers for applying an adhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks,and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion ofthe blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined onsaid shaft, and having a gear fixed thereto, a frame having a portion inwhich the impression roll is journalled, said frame having means guidingit for movement axially of said shaft, a type roll journalled in saidframe and having a driving gear fixed thereto and cooperating with thegear fixed to the impression roll, and inking devices journalled in saidframe and cooperative with the type roll and having driving gears drivenfrom the gear fixed to the type roll.

10. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft carrying gumpickers for applying an adhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks,and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion ofthe blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined onsaid shaft, a type roll having a driving connection with the impressionroll, the impression roll being rotatable relatively to said shaft toadjust the type roll to print on different desired areas in the lengthof the blanks, and means for securing the impression roll in differentrotatably adjusted positions on said shaft.

JOHN L. OBERENDER.

